First Look At Don Cheadle As Miles Davis In 'Miles Ahead'

By
Kevin Jagernauth
|
The PlaylistJuly 7, 2014 at 3:43PM

With three days left to hit the $325,000 Indiegogo goal for his musical drama "Miles Ahead," Don Cheadle is bringing out something that he hopes will help his crowdfunding campaign get over the hump. And we have to admit, it's one that's hard to ignore — a first look at the actor/director in full gear as Miles Davis circa 1969. And if you have qualms about giving another celebrity money for a vanity project, Cheadle wants to make clear this is a passion gig for him, and one that doesn't have big Hollywood support.

With three days left to hit the $325,000 Indiegogo goal for his musical drama "Miles Ahead," Don Cheadle is bringing out something that he hopes will help his crowdfunding campaign get over the hump. And we have to admit, it's one that's hard to ignore — a first look at the actor/director in full gear as Miles Davis circa 1969. And if you have qualms about giving another celebrity money for a vanity project, Cheadle wants to make clear this is a passion gig for him, and one that doesn't have big Hollywood support.

"This is an independently produced film. There is no studio element. We’re still in the process locking down all the financing so it was a component of funds needed to cover a gap , including my own personal money I’ve put into the movie and a consortium of others. It’s to cover what it takes to put together a period movie, that has to have different looks and ways you’re trying to authenticate the time period you’re dealing with," he explained to EW. "And the music rights—all of that stuff costs money. But it also felt like a good way to open him up back to the public and try to raise that awareness and use the social mediums to make this a social event. To make it social, like the music Miles talked about. It just made sense on multiple levels to do it this way."

Co-starring Ewan McGregor, Michael Stuhlbarg and Keith Stanfield, the story will follow a few dangerous days in the life of the music icon, as he bursts out of his silent period and conspires with a Rolling Stone writer to steal back his music. If all goes well, production will start this summer.